In 1965 Mac McCormick apprenticed with Leo Erickson, a notable violin builder and repairman of all string instruments, in Omaha, Neb. Since then he has had workshops in Ralston, Nebraska, San Jose, California, Lubbock, Texas and is currently based in Columbus, Georgia since 1987. [Source: McCormick web]. There are likely to be les than 400 of these instruments on the planet.